Kalvin Phillips

[1964white]

Apparently Noel Whelan quoting Phillips out until the end of March

We're back in a relegation battle if true

[gessa]

Apparently Noel Whelan quoting Phillips out until the end of March

We're back in a relegation battle if true

I still can't see us in a relegation battle, will make it more likely we'll finish 15th rather than 10th though.
I know the record without Phillips isn't good but we will have to find a way of overcoming it, whoever gets to play there will at least be getting more game time to adjust to the position. Llorente perhaps, couple of 60 minute games to get his fitness up to scratch then he can be in there for good.

[Boo Radley]

Apparently Noel Whelan quoting Phillips out until the end of March

We're back in a relegation battle if true

If it’s a torn calf muscle that would be about right - six weeks to recover. It looks madness now that he wasn’t taken off when he first felt it. We were comfortable at that stage against Palace.

It really doesn’t auger well for us but we have to manage it. Realistically, away to a fellow mid table team (currently at least), it was not the loss of Phillips that cost us the points, it was our inability to score that killed us. With a settled defence, Meslier continuing to improve, hopefully Shackleton growing into the position and our growing threat from Raphinha’s wicked set pieces we are still well capable of getting points.

Time for others to step up.

[gessa]

If it’s a torn calf muscle that would be about right - six weeks to recover. It looks madness now that he wasn’t taken off when he first felt it. We were comfortable at that stage against Palace.

It really doesn’t auger well for us but we have to manage it. Realistically, away to a fellow mid table team (currently at least), it was not the loss of Phillips that cost us the points, it was our inability to score that killed us. With a settled defence, Meslier continuing to improve, hopefully Shackleton growing into the position and our growing threat from Raphinha’s wicked set pieces we are still well capable of getting points.

Time for others to step up.

Exactly Boo

[1964white]

But we dont adjust when he is unavailable as there is no one who can play that role nowhere near as well as KP. If we dont beat either the Saints or Villa this week we have a really tough fixture list on the horizon with Citeh Liverpool, Manure, Spurs, Chelsea still to come plus tough trips to Fulham & Brighton, two places I cant recall when we won there. 4 points minimum this week or else we are back in the mire.

[1964white]

We do have WBA & the Blunts at ER to come

[1964white]

Tbh we should never have left ourselves so vulnerable in what is a very important position with a team.

[gessa]

But we dont adjust when he is unavailable as there is no one who can play that role nowhere near as well as KP. If we dont beat either the Saints or Villa this week we have a really tough fixture list on the horizon with Citeh Liverpool, Manure, Spurs, Chelsea still to come plus tough trips to Fulham & Brighton, two places I cant recall when we won there. 4 points minimum this week or else we are back in the mire.

But before we play Fulham, they have Palace and Liverpool away, Spurs and Citeh at home. Not easy for anyone.
we only need to win 2 of our remaining fixtures,

[gessa]

Tbh we should never have left ourselves so vulnerable in what is a very important position with a team.

The problem there is it's such a specialist role under our system, it needs game time to be able to play it as it should be, if we had adequate cover, would that quality of player be happy sitting on the bench 80-90% of the season.

[gessa]

Anyway regardless, we are primed to implode this part of the season, unless we get a covid break of course

[1964white]

The problem there is it's such a specialist role under our system, it needs game time to be able to play it as it should be, if we had adequate cover, would that quality of player be happy sitting on the bench 80-90% of the season.

Players are happy sitting on the bench at other clubs who have massive squads. As I've posted previously there is a case for playing two DM's in certain games as the big clubs do, so two specialists DM's would get plenty of games over a season. It's one of those positions where a defensive midfielder is susceptible to picking up injuries & suspensions, any team requires at least two in their squads.

[gessa]

Players are happy sitting on the bench at other clubs who have massive squads. As I've posted previously there is a case for playing two DM's in certain games as the big clubs do, so two specialists DM's would get plenty of games over a season. It's one of those positions where a defensive is susceptible to picking up injuries & suspensions, any team requires at least two in their squads.

Who are these players and at what clubs?
Bet non are newly promoted or in a position to pay £100k+ per week wages, for the privilege. Few and far between I suspect. There hopefully will become a time we can compete like that but not yet alas.

[Boo Radley]

But we dont adjust when he is unavailable as there is no one who can play that role nowhere near as well as KP. If we dont beat either the Saints or Villa this week we have a really tough fixture list on the horizon with Citeh Liverpool, Manure, Spurs, Chelsea still to come plus tough trips to Fulham & Brighton, two places I cant recall when we won there. 4 points minimum this week or else we are back in the mire.

We only need six points ‘64 to be safe. A few draws would help nicely, even though it’s not our thing.

Adding to your list of fixtures, we also have Burnley, West Ham (both away) and Southampton at home. Even the “big” teams are having their wobbles and we’d want to be extremely unlucky to have everyone on top form lining out against us or having Wolves’ type luck when playing us.

I really feel our performances are improving and we have players coming back from injury so we are still well capable of taking scalps, even from tough fixtures. European games will also begin to take more of a toll from teams from here on as well.

We’ll be fine, keep the faith .

[Irish Ian]

If true that is the heart of our side missing.

[billysboots]

The problem there is it's such a specialist role under our system, it needs game time to be able to play it as it should be, if we had adequate cover, would that quality of player be happy sitting on the bench 80-90% of the season.

Someone that can step into Kalvin’s position when needed but can play in other positions as well.
This would give him game time.

[gessa]

Someone that can step into Kalvin’s position when needed but can play in other positions as well.
This would give him game time.

Yes, saying it is the easy bit but finding that player is difficult part. It's a position you can't just step into, it's one that needs game time in that role.

[Irish Ian]

Just had a look.

Last season KP has 3 injury spells plus two suspensions.
Already he has missed 6 of our 24 games..

For someone we rely on so much that is a serous issue.

Perhaps we do need to spend money in replacing him in the long run.

[Cjay]

Its poor that we have had such limited midfield options for so long.

We placed far to much pressure on Klich, KP and Hernandez in the Championship and this season its been KP and Klich (is it any wonder Klich's form has dropped he must be exhausted).

Regarding KP though i think Robin Koch was our backup with Llorente and Cooper sitting in defence.

Koch has played nearly 50% of his career games as a dm.

The club need to prioritise 2 cms in the summer imo a Hernandez replacement and a Klich/KP competition.

[1964white]

We only need six points ‘64 to be safe. A few draws would help nicely, even though it’s not our thing.

Adding to your list of fixtures, we also have Burnley, West Ham (both away) and Southampton at home. Even the “big” teams are having their wobbles and we’d want to be extremely unlucky to have everyone on top form lining out against us or having Wolves’ type luck when playing us.

I really feel our performances are improving and we have players coming back from injury so we are still well capable of taking scalps, even from tough fixtures. European games will also begin to take more of a toll from teams from here on as well.

We’ll be fine, keep the faith .

Point is Boo we are better than all those teams below us but somehow they have more luck than we do.

[1964white]

Who are these players and at what clubs?
Bet non are newly promoted or in a position to pay £100k+ per week wages, for the privilege. Few and far between I suspect. There hopefully will become a time we can compete like that but not yet alas.

But we can afford six wingers in the squad (well they were when we signed them)

Needs addressing in the summer!